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Not So Common GF -- Finding The Perfect Ring (Help!)

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Date: 2/29/2008 11:48:37 PM
Author: musey
Don''t limit yourself to websites where you an pick a setting, add it to a cart, and then check out. Pick what you want, then figure out how best to obtain it--instead of the other way around.


So, you say you have a good idea of what you''re wanting. Does that mean you picked one? Or just that you know what general design ideas you like? This is the kind of information we need in order to point you in the right direction...
Click to expand...

Yeah I do. I don''t have a specific "I want this ring" but I have a pretty clear idea:

18k White/Yellow Gold
Leaf or Swirl Design
Tsavorite Princess Cut Center
Diamond side accents (possibly round/bar/or trillion)
Size 8
Budget about $1,500 or less

Does this help?
 
or how about something like this?

Maybe you can check out Pricegems.com - the prices seem reasonable, they have alot of choices for coloured gemstone centres, and they also have the option of adding engraving - I know they mean the inside, but maybe you could ask them to extend this to adding some more engraving to the shank in the leaf style you like? I dunno, just throwing ideas out there
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ETA: oh, ok you want a princess centre..sorry!
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3168_02.jpg
 
Yup, that helps.

By "bar", do you mean baguettes?

I really love both Greenlake Jewelers and Van Craeynest for leaf/vine designs. VC is, conveniently, located in San Francisco.

You said 18k white/yellow gold... try to figure out what her metal color preference is. Most women have a very strong preference in one direction over another.
 
How about ice.com? They have a few gemstone rings that are under $500.00. I''ve never bought from them so I dont know but maybe someone else here has
 
how about something like this? you could always have the blue sapphires taken out or replaced with a diff colour. This was made custom and in plat so probably doesn't fit your budget, but these ppl seem to specialize in this style,
http://www.jewelryexpert.com/catalog/Tsavorite-Secret-Garden-Ring.htm




ETA: ok, noone likes my suggestions, I'm gonna go do summin else now! (walks away sulking
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Tsavorite-Secret-Garden-Ring-21.gif
 
Date: 3/1/2008 12:03:09 AM
Author: musey
Yup, that helps.


By 'bar', do you mean baguettes?


I really love both Greenlake Jewelers and Van Craeynest for leaf/vine designs. VC is, conveniently, located in San Francisco.


You said 18k white/yellow gold... try to figure out what her metal color preference is. Most women have a very strong preference in one direction over another.
Click to expand...

Yeah baguettes :)

Oh! I am really enjoying the designs at Van Craeynest. And it is located in San Francisco? I'm enjoying these the most

http://www.vancraeynest.com/images/c-lg_456_556.jpg
http://www.vancraeynest.com/images/c-lg_484_584.jpg
http://www.vancraeynest.com/images/c-lg_488_588.jpg

Also, I know she likes yellow gold more than white gold, so I will probably go with Yellow gold.

And wow I like that platinum one with the sapphire you posted arjunajane! Unfortunately it is custom and I think maybe a bit too masculine for her... wouldn't mind it for myself though
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c-lg_456_556.jpg
 
I vote for a trip to Van Craeynest this weekend, then!
 

And wow I like that platinum one with the sapphire you posted arjunajane! Unfortunately it is custom and I think maybe a bit too masculine for her... wouldn''t mind it for myself though



sounds like a plan lelouch.!
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good luck with van craeynest!
 
Alright so with my handy dandy photoshop, I changed the center stone green to simulate what it may look like with a Tsavorite gem.

What do you guys think? Does it go well?

photoshopwithtsavorite.jpg
 
Date: 3/1/2008 12:10:40 AM
Author: Lelouch

And wow I like that platinum one with the sapphire you posted arjunajane! Unfortunately it is custom and I think maybe a bit too masculine for her...
Click to expand...
I get that it is masculine... but what's wrong with it (or anything else) being custom? They'd just have to re-create it for you, if it were what you wanted.

I think your photoshopped VC looks nice. I'm a bit concerned though because you did say that she doesn't like classic tiffany settings, because they "present" the center stone in a certain way (I believe what you said she disliked was the "solo rock on top")... and the solitaires you are choosing are only a stone's throw away from that, really.

IMO, adding engraving an sidestones is more flashy and "look at my ring!" than a solitaire, anyway. Just food for thought.


ETA: I like Selkie's suggestion in the post below for something that's a bit more of a departure from the classic tiffany style. I think it would look FANTASTIC with a tsavorite center.
 
I second the Greenlake suggestion. They are fun to work with, and custom really isn''t that difficult, if you can''t find what you want pre-made, This one is in the antique style gallery, first page.

MTG_A_10004.jpg
 
Generally if there is a design that was custom for someone else, even if I liked it the most out of everything... I wouldn''t want to get a re-creation because it is something that that person wanted to get themselves. I believe it would ruin it''s uniqueness if someone else got the same ring that was customized
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RE: custom work... you said that you loved that ring but that it was too "masculine," so if you had it recreated but with a thinner or more tapered shank, it would no longer be a replica of someone's custom work. The importance of custom work, for me, is less about getting something no one else has and more about getting exactly what you want. Other people do flip those priorities, though.

Besides, I'm one to think that pretty much nothing is truly "unique" anymore. It's allllll been done
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Date: 3/1/2008 12:27:51 AM
Author: Lelouch
Generally if there is a design that was custom for someone else, even if I liked it the most out of everything... I wouldn''t want to get a re-creation because it is something that that person wanted to get themselves. I believe it would ruin it''s uniqueness if someone else got the same ring that was customized
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Click to expand...

Sure, but the fun of custom is that you start with a design idea that someone else came up with, but then you personalize it. You change the stone shape, the color, the design on the side. There''s really nothing out there under the sun that someone hasn''t thought of first, but the trick is to put your own mark on it. So it''s not a recreation. That''s why it''s called custom.
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Check on clay-pot.com for some pricing on Van Craeynest rings. They are handmade and very detailed, so they run a little more than many antiquey design rings.
 
Heh, posted at the same time as Musey.
 
I found this one and thought it was pretty..

Tsavorite-Engraved-Ring-2.gif
 
I agree with Musey, it is quite hard to be completely original these days, even with the "different" tastes you and ur gf have,
here is a tsavorite with baguette sides, like u mentioned earlier - you could have something like this made custom and choose the engraving for the shank then.
On another tip, have you considered whether you''re gonna find the centre stone yourself first?

gr8033a-tsavorite-ring.jpg
 
Date: 3/1/2008 12:37:01 AM
Author: heather318
I found this one and thought it was pretty..
Click to expand...
Oh I like this one for his needs, with a square shape it''d be just right for what has been described. good find Heather- price?
 
Date: 3/1/2008 12:43:35 AM
Author: arjunajane
I agree with Musey, it is quite hard to be completely original these days, even with the ''different'' tastes you and ur gf have,

here is a tsavorite with baguette sides, like u mentioned earlier - you could have something like this made custom and choose the engraving for the shank then.

On another tip, have you considered whether you''re gonna find the centre stone yourself first?
Click to expand...

I was thinking about finding the center stone myself. It doesn''t seem that there are many places that come with the tsavorite as center. I was also given a link to www.whitegems.com who cuts out of rough. I don''t know their prices or anything, but I was thinking about going through them too.

Wow this is hard haha

My main concern about custom though is the pricing, but I guess I can always ask for a quote
 
Date: 3/1/2008 12:46:26 AM
Author: arjunajane
Date: 3/1/2008 12:37:01 AM

Author: heather318

I found this one and thought it was pretty..
Click to expand...

Oh I like this one for his needs, with a square shape it''d be just right for what has been described. good find Heather- price?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I found it on a random Google search and after scouring the website, there was no information at all about the ring itself.. Here is the website.. http://www.tsavorites.net/
 
Date: 3/1/2008 12:48:52 AM
Author: Lelouch

My main concern about custom though is the pricing, but I guess I can always ask for a quote
Click to expand...
I had a feeling
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Generally speaking, custom pricing won't cost you enough more than stock for you to worry about. Most jewelers will have to make the setting to fit your stone anyway, so most will be "custom" in that sense. My e-ring was technically a "custom" job, even though the setting is a catalogue item (or was, rather, it's been discontinued) because it had to be made to fit my stone. This is standard for that company, and many others as well, I believe.

The other good thing about this project is that if you choose a tsavorite center, you'll be able to put the majority of your budget toward the setting. Gold is one of the cheaper (comparatively) options for settings, so that helps too.
 
I am currently writing up a design discussion with Green Lake to see what is possible with my budget :) I will let you all know what comes out of it!

Thank you everyone for your help, it has been extremely useful and I hope I can make a ring thats perfect for my girl''s dreams
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I know you've found something you like but I remember this ring on PS (Pokey is the owner). It's a tsavorite with a custom setting by Leon Mege.
 
This is what I tried to upload

Pokey.jpg
 
Date: 3/1/2008 1:12:17 AM
Author: Lelouch
I am currently writing up a design discussion with Green Lake to see what is possible with my budget :) I will let you all know what comes out of it!

Thank you everyone for your help, it has been extremely useful and I hope I can make a ring thats perfect for my girl's dreams
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Click to expand...
Yes, please do let us know! A Tsavorite with yellow gold will look amazing; I'm sure you and Green Lake will come up with something lovely for your GF.

swingirl, Pokey's ring is one of my favorites... takes my breath away every time I see it.

I like the ones arjunajane and selkie posted also... though I (personally) prefer a thinner band. It appears the one selkie posted is set low? Sometimes it's hard for me to tell with top view pics. Both very pretty and unique rings.
 
lelouch, if you come to SF often, you might want to check out the jewelry center (sometimes people call it the gift center). it''s a huge 2 level store that consists of hundreds of wholesale jewelry stores. that way you can actually see the designs in real life and narrow it down.

you should be able to find a beautiful ring with your budget there.

it''s located in downtown SF. here''s the contact info and address. the security only allows in you if you have an appt, but you don''t really need an appt. you can just say you have one.

i usually use vendor #115, which is owned by ivy and hong. you can use their vendor number to get in as well. and then feel free to roam around. it''ll probably take up your whole day as you can get lost in there!

have fun!
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You could also get her a wedding band that has a leaf design on it. That could be gorgeous too.
 
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